While the Cazenovia girls basketball team continued to build late-season momentum, the boys squad remained in the midst of a painful growth process.
At home on Friday night, the girls Lakers easily took care of Skaneateles, winning the battle of Laker teams by a 55-29 margin.
Starting on a 15-6 run, the eastern Lakers steadily pulled clear, never allowing the western Lakers any kind of sustained push to make it interesting.
Kiley Evans, with 12 points, led a balanced offense where Ashley Stec earned 11 points, Tori Widrick eight points and Lindsey Smith six points. Ellen Burr and Katie Kleine got five points apiece.
This sets up, on Wednesday night, the first of two big meetings between Cazenovia (11-2) and undefeated OHSL Liberty division leader Westhill.
The Warriors feature Carly Cooper, a 1,000-point senior going to Siena College — where former Laker Heather Stec starts as a senior. Stec had 20 points on Friday night in the Saints’ 64-55 road win over Manhattan.
As this was going on, the Cazenovia boys were at Skaneateles and could not keep up with its namesakes, taking a 71-44 defeat.
All the damage seemed to be rendered in the second quarter. Cazenovia actually led, 10-7, going in, but Skaneateles erupted for 30 points in that frame and, in the combined second and third periods, outscored the eastern Lakers 49-16 to settle matters.
Max Kellish, with his 10 points, got left behind, as Cullinan Williams earned eight points and Chris Schaffner six points. For the western Lakers, Brandon Barron set a career mark with 20 points as his teammate, Kevin Rice, added 19 points.
Cazenovia (3-10) plays its next three games at home, watching as Westhill visits Buckley Gym on Wednesday and defending Class B champion Hannibal shows up on Friday.